Serena sat calmly and watched with interest as the rain pattered onto the windowpane and slowly slid down it. It hadn't rained in some time, so this was definitely a special occasion for the town of Zerington. She lived with her family on the outskirts of the town, on a small farm. Her life was extremely simple, except for her Wiccan heritage. She was what the villagers called *a witch*. She had inherited this from her mother's side of the family; all the women in her family were considered Wiccan. They didn't have any *supernatural powers* as *witches* were believed to. But, they did practice Wicca, and had great knowledge of gemstones and ways of healing. Her house was small but spacious, and painted brown. At the moment, she was sitting on the window seat in her room, watching with wonder as the rain poured down endlessly seeming to cleanse and heal the parched land. Serena was wearing a black dress that was sleeveless, and had a skirt that flowered out slightly at the waist. Its length was down to her ankles. She wore simple, black boots, traditional for women at that time. Her blonde hair, the color of sunshine, was down to her waist and at the moment hiding her face slightly. She had a fair complexion and had forest green eyes. She was slim and medium height. Serena was also very intelligent for her age, 13.

"Serena," her mother called, looking for her. "What is it, Mother?" she called back, her eyes not moving from the rain falling majestically outside. "I need water to boil for the potatoes we are having for dinner tonight, could you go and fetch some from the well, perhaps?" she asked, but of course, Serena knew it wasn't the type of question to answer to, it was the kind that was really an order. She sighed and called back, "Yes Mother." Serena tied her boots and got up from her seat. She then realized that she would have to go out in the rain, and not only that, but the fact that the well was across the field. The walk wasn't long, but it would seem so because of the rain. Serena did not want to go out there and ruin her newly sewn dress just to get some water for the potatoes. "But mother, its raining so hard out!" she whined, walking past her mother busy in the kitchen. "Serena, I told you I need that water or dinner won't be ready for when your father comes home from town," she said sharply. Her father had gone into town today, in the rain, in a carriage to buy some seed for the fields. Serena started to complain again, but after glancing at her mother's stern face decided against it. She pulled on her coat and stepped out onto the back porch.

The rain was making a racket against the tin roof of the porch. Serena stared at it for a moment and then knowing if she looked any longer she wouldn't do it, ran briskly out into the field. The rain battered down on her mercilessly. She pulled her coat tighter around herself and ran as fast as her legs would permit, seeing the well only a short distance away. The wooden pail swung rhythmically in the wind. Serena approached the well and stopped shortly as she came to the side of it. She looked at the rope that held the pail; it was worn down extremely. The pail itself was scratched too. Why, that's odd, she thought. Serena was anxious to get back into the safety of the house so she dismissed the bad feeling and quickly pulled the rope, lowering the pail into the dark depths of the well. She waited impatiently to hear the usual plunk of the pail hitting the water, but it didn't come for a long time. She pulled the rope down just a bit more and then started to reel the bucket up. When the rope came to where she thought the pail should be it wasn't there.

Instead, there was a winged creature with small delicately curved horns atop its head and piercing fangs hanging from its gaping mouth. It was Serena knew to be a water gargoyle. She trembled as she remembered the story that she had been told when she was a wee 7 years old.

Her grandmother had told her it when she had come to visit for her birthday. It was the day that she was also told about her Wiccan heritage. "Serena, my child, there was once a time when your great-great-great grandmother cast a spell that was forbidden to all of us. She was mad at a man in the village because he had courted her, and then had been caught with another women. The forbidden spell cast by her was to create a creature to kill and curse this man and his family. It created the water gargoyles." "Water gargoyles?" Serena had asked with childlike wonder. "Yes my dear winged creatures with horns and gray skin that ate people." Serena had gasped with fear at the time. "But please let me get back to the story, Serena. Where was I...Oh, yes it created the water gargoyles to kill this man. But, instead of going after the man, she made a fatal error. She said one wrong word while reciting the spell, and accidentally told the creature to haunt our family. The creature killed her, and then after satisfying its hunger, retired to the well outside. It lurks there today, and will emerge every 6 or so years to kill a single human and eat them to satisfy its hunger for another 6 or so years. So, be careful with the well, don't go out to it during rain storms, for that was when the creature was evoked from a spell, so it usually comes out then, but only every 6 or so years mind you." she said finally. Serena had stared at her grandmother with wide eyes and nodded simply.

At the current time, Serena was frozen solid with fear. But then, realizing what the possible outcomes of the horrid situation were, she ran with all of her might towards the nearby woods. She hadn't wanted to endanger her mother's or baby sister's life by leading the creature to the house. But even as she knew she had done the right thing taking it to the woods and away from all civilization, she knew too that her future looked bleak. Serena, her body already soaked to the bone from the rain, kept running towards the brush of the woods with fear in her eyes. She had a breathing condition, and it only effected her if she ran for too long. She knew it would start to make it hard to get any oxygen soon. Suddenly, the water gargoyle flew up beside her, its jaws gaping, exposing many pointed teeth meant for tearing human flesh. Serena screamed. She ran harder, faster, not caring if she could breath any longer. She changed her direction and headed for the East End of the wood. She could faintly hear the water gargoyle's wings flapping quickly to continue following her. Serena, knowing she couldn't run forever, decided it was now or never, and stopped dead and turned around. Her breathing still hard and ragged, her hair and dress plastered to her spoke loudly.

"Creature summoned by me, return to the realm from which thee evoked from, thy job is done and your presence no longer has purpose! Go! Now! I command thee! With the powers of the great Melcempthia I order thee to!"

Serena astonished by the words that had so suddenly erupted with such force from her mouth stared wide-eyed at the creature. The water gargoyle was screeching and shaking violently. And then, out of nowhere, a silver portal appeared behind it. The creature was then sucked into the portal, vanishing without a trace, as did the portal immediately after the creature was engulfed. Serena was again amazed. She had no idea where she had gotten the words; or spell rather to send the water gargoyle back to wherever it had come from. Summoned by me? She thought to herself, with utmost confusion. I didn't summon it...

Serena shook her head, and then realizing that her mother must be worried, ran quickly back to the well. Oddly, the pail was there and the rope sturdy as ever. She got the water and walked back with a pace just short of running; not wishing to spill the water. Inside, her mother ordered, "Where in heavens have you been Serena? It doesn't take that long to get water from a well does it?" she said with worry seeping into her voice. "And look, your soaked. I didn't think you'd get that wet. Here, let me help dry you off." Serena followed her mother silently into the washing room and dried herself and redressed. Serena was about to tell her mother the whole story, but then remembered her grandmother's words at the end of the story.

"Also, if you do come across a water gargoyle, do not tell your mother. She wouldn't believe you and I don't think she'd except it as a fact either." she had said with slight annoyance at the thought of her mother's sense of reality. Her mother had never truly cared for her Wiccan heritage; she was a very practical woman. "I never told her about it and I think you'd do a better job handling it, anyway." her grandmother had finally stated with a smile.

"Serena, I asked you what took you so long," her mother said to her slowly, as if she was incapable of understanding. "I, um, dropped the pail and it took me a while to get it fixed," she said trying to sound truthful. "Oh," her mother said with a sigh of relief. "It does that sometimes," she added with an understanding smile. Serena relaxed slightly, glad that her story had passed the test of her mother's questionings.

Serena decided that the next time her grandmother came to visit she would tell her about it and only her.

She continued life as normal and never told a soul about the encounter with the water gargoyle, except her grandmother who later came a few years later. She grew up to be a strong witch, and a good healer. Serena never forgot the encounter, and felt it a sign that she was meant to be one of such strong Wiccan heritage.

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